Acer has unveiled the Project DualPlay Mini concept gaming handheld, a Windows device that combines portable console controls with a compact backlit keyboard.
Presented at IFA, the prototype is designed to offer an alternative to choosing between a gaming laptop and a Steam Deck-style handheld. It is not currently intended for commercial release, and Acer has not confirmed that the design will become a retail product.
In its standard configuration, the device resembles a conventional PC gaming handheld, with analogue sticks, a D-pad, Xbox-style ABXY buttons and shoulder triggers. Its screen can then be flipped open and swivelled around to sit above the keyboard, allowing the machine to be used for games and applications that are better suited to traditional PC controls.
The compact keyboard is backlit, but the device’s eight-inch display means it is unlikely to replace a conventional laptop for extended work. Acer’s concept could nevertheless provide a single-device option for travellers, particularly when connected to an external monitor.
Acer Project DualPlay Mini concept gaming handheld remains a prototype
Acer has released few technical details because the DualPlay Mini is strictly a concept. The handheld is powered by an Intel processor and uses a dual-fan cooling system similar to that found in the company’s Predator Atlas 8.
The cooling arrangement combines a metal fan with a plastic one, while Acer says the blades on the metal fan have been made thinner than those used previously. Two USB-C ports are positioned on the rear, with one supporting Thunderbolt connectivity.
The DualPlay Mini forms part of Acer’s wider gaming hardware showcase, alongside a new seven-inch version of the Predator Atlas 8. Whether the flip-and-swivel design will progress beyond the IFA prototype remains uncertain.
